July 10 2020 l 18 Tamuz 5780
CONGREGATION BEIT T'SHUVAH WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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JOIN US WEEKLY FOR SHABBAT SERVICES-VIRTUALLY!
FRIDAY NIGHT- 6:30PM
SATURDAY MORNING- 10:30AM
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Dear Congregants,
This week on Thursday, we began the “Three Weeks”,
bein hametzarim
in Hebrew, that is, “between the straits.” On the 17 Tammuz, the walls of Jerusalem were breeched, leading 3 weeks later to the Destruction of our Holy Temple on 9 Av. It is a time of mourning on the Jewish calendar as we anticipate and remember the loss of what some would call the heart of Judaism.
How are we dealing with loss in our lives today? Many of us our experiencing great loss at this time…loss of jobs, loss of health, loss of the world that we knew, and so much more. But where there is an end to something, the opportunity arises for for a new beginning. After the Winter comes the Spring. After the night comes the new day. This is the cycle of the world as it was created for us. In this time of loss, what is it that you have found? Losing that which you thought should be, brings about new possibilities for what could be. As the Psalmist wrote: “You have turned my mourning into dancing for me….”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Micha'el
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THIS WEEK'S TORAH PORTION
By: Rabbi Kerry Chaplin
When the pandemic is over, then we’ll live life. “When we’re all back at 8831…” “When we have childcare…” “When, when, when…” Our waiting creates the illusion that life in the time of COVID-19 is not living, that we are waiting for life to resume and pick up where we left off – if not the same, then something close to it. The waiting keeps us stagnant. We start to feel stuck. And we lose sight of one of the most important learnings of both this deadly virus and this movement for black lives: living is so very precious.
The question then is not when will I start living again. The question is: how will I live now? Not according to life as I want it to be, but according to life as it is?
Yes, it is scary. It’s overwhelming. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. Clear and sober mind. This is life - as it is. We can’t put off living until the pandemic is over. Rabbi Heschel teaches:
It is a mistake to assume that significant being is achieved unwittingly, to let hours go on in order to arrive at the goals of living. Life is a battle for meaning which may be lost or won, totally or partially. What is at stake may be gambled away. (
Who is Man?
p. 95)
What’s at stake is the preciousness of our lives. In addiction, we gamble away that preciousness for the next high, the next drink, the next thrill. In recovery, we cling to it. The preciousness of our lives
...click here to read more.
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Tim F.
for one year of sobriety.
We are still celebrating birthdays each week on Zoom!
To sign up to take a Sober Birthday cake
at Beit T'Shuvah,
click here.
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If you would like to sponsor shabbat at
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Each week we will be featuring pieces from our thrift store for purchase on Bidding for Good. Be sure to check back here weekly for the newest finds.
*For optimal viewing, open this page on a computer*
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Tribute donations are a wonderful way of marking life cycle events for your loved ones and friends and supporting Beit T'Shuvah.
Leslie and Daniel Cohen in honor of Sheldon Horowitz's birthday
Joshua Gordon in memory of Noah Lahman
If you are interested in sending a beautiful tribute, please contact
Development
. You can also send a tribute online by
Clicking Here
. Beit T'Shuvah will promptly send a card to the family or friend you are recognizing.
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THIS WEEK'S SPOTLIGHT
Adam Nimoy
By Jesse Solomon
Popularity is one of life's greatest double-edged swords. Most of us strive for it our whole lives without ever even getting a glimpse of it. Some of us make it to the promised land and find that it is not everything they had dreamt of. For those who make it, they often leave their loved ones in the fallout of their fame. It is hard for anyone to say the name “Adam Nimoy” without immediately sparking the nostalgia associated with his father's work. Nimoy is not a very popular last name. In most people’s minds, they can only think of one man–Spock. For his son, Adam, this came with many rewards and challenges. The rewards included never having to wait for a table at a restaurant and the challenges included constantly living in the shadow of his father. “It wasn’t cool when we were in conflict. I’d be like, ‘enough with Spock. I’m sick of Spock. I'm done with Spock,” Adam says.
As a child, seeing his parent be showered with affection and having to sit on the sidelines and watch was confusing. “I was very proud of my dad. I love
Star Trek
. It’s freaking awesome. On the other hand, I had a lot of trouble with him because we were very generationally different,” Adam says. “He grew up in the Depression as the son of Russian immigrants and his parents were very poor. I didn’t have to do that. At that time, I was reading detective comics, listening to rock’n’roll, and watching 60s television.”
When he was finally old enough to carve his own path, Adam decided to become a lawyer. “After passing the bar exam, I went with some of my friends to Costa Del Sol in Spain. We ate paella, drank sangria. We brought
...click here to continue reading.
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(Very Virtual) Talent Show
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Join us Saturday, July 18th at 7pm for our Live(ish) Event! (on Zoom)
Suggested donation $18
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Beit T’Shuvah Custom Masks are Here!
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Stay safe while supporting Beit T’Shuvah with masks custom made by Creative Matters. Perfect gifts for alumni, staff, residents, people in recovery or community members!
$10 per mask
Designs:
One Day At A Time
In This Together
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BTS Zoom Family Support Group! Whether your loved one is still in treatment or they have already moved on to the next chapter of their journey, we would like to provide a platform in which families get to talk about their shared experiences and wisdom.
This group is for families of our current and former residents, no need to RSVP, just drop in!
Every Wednesday at 6-7 pm starting July 8.
Meeting ID
: 852 3052 3448
Password
: 678276
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Friday night services held via zoom at 6:30pm PT. Click the link below to join.
Dial-in by Phone:
669 900 9128
Meeting ID: 237 072 458
Password: 211687
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Saturday Morning Services
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Saturday morning Prayer and Meditation at 10:30am PT. Click the link below to join. Password required.
Meeting ID: 353 786 763
Password: 220882
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Come learn on Saturday mornings at 9:30am PT with Rabbi Micha'el Akiba.
Meeting ID: 353 786 763
Password: 220882
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Baked T'Shuvah's founder Jackie Elkins is licensed by the state and you can now order the Baked T'Shuvah challah you know and love for pick-up!
$12/challah, 100% of proceeds benefit BTS.
Meeting place for drop off.
Available flavors: Plain, Chocolate Chip, or Raisin.
Contact
Jackie
to place your order - orders need to be placed no later than Wednesday!
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We are still celebrating birthdays each week on our Shabbat Zoom.
To sign up to take a cake, please contact
Jillian.
If you missed celebrating your birthday this year and would still like to take a cake via Zoom, contact
Jillian.
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Daily Spiritual Dose. Check @BeitTShuvah instastories and facebook page daily.
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Life in Uncertain Times: Coping Strategies Before, During, and After Corona. With Rabbi Joseph. Mondays from 12-1pm PT/3-4pm ET.
Dial-in by Phone 1 669 900 9128.
Meeting ID: 457 604 965.
Password:
749655
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#NotMyCorona. Recovery-Minded Spiritual
Learning with Beit T’Shuvah and the T’Shuvah Center. Wednesdays. 1pm PT/4pm ET.
Dial-in by Phone: 669 900 6833.
Meeting ID: 286 111 196.
Password: recovery
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BTS community AA meeting: Thursdays at 7pm.
Dial-in by Phone: 669.900.9128
Meeting ID: 452 685 1337
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Beit T’Shuvah and the Elaine Breslow Institute invite you participate in this spiritual challenge!
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Thursdays. 9-9:30am PT/12-12:30pm ET.
A powerful kaddish experience led by the Lab/Shul community. They have invited our Beit T’Shuvah community to join them.
https://labshul.org/event/virtual-mourners-kaddish-call/2019-08-29/
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For anyone that shops at Ralphs, please consider registering your phone with their community care program and select Beit T'Shuvah as your charity.
For anyone that purchases items on Amazon, all you have to do is go to Amazon Smile and choose Beit T'Shuvah as your charity and a percentage of each purchase will be given back to us.
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